Trolley



Oct. 15, 1929. J, J, CU NG. 1,731,737

' TROLLEY Filed March 30, 1928 no, v INVENTOR. Wk John J. Cumming.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 15, 1929 STATES PATENT QFFECE TROLLEY Application filedMarch 30, 1928. Serial No. 265,851.

This invention relates to improvements in trolleys, and moreparticularly to a novel trolley wheel and supporting means for the same.

The primary object ofthe invention is to provide a trolley wheel andsupport of simple inexpensive and durable construction, and one whichwill require only infrequent inspection and recharging with lubricant.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of thischaracter, in which the trolley wheel axle revolves with the wheel, andis journaled in constantly lubricated anti-friction bearings.

A further object is to provide a structure of this character, in whicheach lubricantchamber is furnished with a. quick detachable cap topermit rapid recharging with grease or the like when necessary.

A still further object is to provide a trolley wheel device in which thewheel, axle and bearings may be rapidly removed for the purpose ofinspection or the like.

- Another object is to furnish a device of this character with removablethreaded pins for positively locking the bearings against accidentaldislodgment.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view whichwill appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in thenovel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front view 01 the upper end of a trolley pole provided withmy improve ments; partly in section to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, take on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the lubricant chamber caps.

In the drawing, 1 designates a trolley pole to which my improved fork 2may be removably secured by any suitable means, such as a pin or bolt 3.

Each arm of the fork has a thickened upper portion hollowed out toprovide a lubricant chamber 4, the inner wall of which is cut away asshown at 5 in Fig. 3, to provide a slot to permit the axle 6 to be slidinto place from the front of the fork.

The axle, as best shown in Fig. 2, has a central portion 7 of angular orsquare cross section, and the trolley wheel 8 has an aperture of similarshape, so that the wheel and axle will revolve together. The portions 9of the axle are of cylindrical shape to receivecoiled springs 10preferably formed of brass. These springs act as conductors to conveythe current from the wheel to the fork, and they also tend to keep thewheel in proper or central position. If desired, copper washers 11 maybe placed between the springs and the inner surfaces of the arms of thefork, as a protection against wear on said arms.

The axle also has a pair of annular groves 12 near its ends to lit inthe slots 5, and this permits the enlarged ends 13 of the axle toprevent the arms of the fork from spreading.

Suitable anti-friction bearings, such as ball bearings 14- are looselyarranged on the ends of theaxle, and they slide into the lubricantchambers 4 with the axle, and after they are arranged in position,locking pins 15 are slipped into position to secure the bearings, andconsequently, the wheel and axle in place. Each locking pin is threadedat 16 to engage threads formed in the arm 2, and the head. of each pinis grooved at 17, so that ascrew driver may be employed to manipulatethe pins.

The forward ends of the chambers 4 are open to allow grease to be packedinto the chambers, and after the grease has been inserted, the mouths ofthe chambers are closed by removable caps 18, one of which is shown indetail in Fig. 4. Each cap consists of a. body- 19 having an arm 20adapted to fit in the slot 5 for holding the axle in position, and theinner end of each arm is curved shown at 21 to lit in one of the grooves12.

A second and wider arm 22 projectsinwardly from the cap and liesalongside of the arm 20, and the arm 22 has a curved extremity 23 whichabuts against one of the bearings 14: and acts as an additional securingmeans, and both arms 20 and 22 function to prevent the lubricant fromseeping out along the slot 5.

A rotatable latch 24 is provided on each cap, and when the latch isproperly turned, it will engage a ledge 25 on the arm 2, to secure thecap in position. Each latch has a screw head 26 to permit manipulationof the same by a screw-driver or the like.

As the chambers 4 are quite large, they will accommodate a rather largesupply of lubricant, and consequently, the wheel may be used for acomparatively great length of time without resupplying the grease. W henit is necessary to renew the lubricant, this may be rapidly accomplishedby simply turning the latches 24 by means of a screw-driver, and thispermits the removal of the caps, so as to make the mouths of thechambers t accessible.

If it is necessary at any time to remove the wheel, this may be quicklyaccomplished by first removing the caps, and then the pins 15, afterwhich the axle (5 will readily slide out of the slots 5, when the wheel.is pulled forwardly.

As the wheel 8, springs 9, washers 11, and bearings 14 are all looselymounted on the axle, such parts may be readily dismantled forinspection, repair or replaccn'ient.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation andadvantages of the invention may be readily understood, and I .am awarethat various changes may be made in the details disclosed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in thefollowing claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is: v

1. In combination, a trolley fork, an axle having its ends journaled inthe tines of the fork, chambers in the fork tines, anti-frictionbearings for the axle arranged in said chambers, means to permit theaxle and bearings to be removed as a unit from the fork withoutseparating the tines, and a trolley wheel mounted on and rotatable withthe axle.

2. In combination, a trolley fork having chambers with slotted walls, anaxle having its ends extending through the slots into the chambers,bearings for the axle, each chamber forming a lubricant container, saidslots permitting the axle and bearings to be removed as a unit from thefork, and removable caps for said chambers and slots.

3. In a device of the character described, an axle having annulargrooves near its ends, a wheel mounted on and rotatable with the axle,and a fork having slotted arms which extend into said grooves.

I. In combinatian, a fork having arms provided with chambers havingslotted inner walls, an axle having annular grooved portions slidable insaid slots, a trolley wheel rotatable with and slidable along said axle,and

springs arranged on the axle between the wheel and said arms.

5. In combination, a fork having arms provided with chambers havingslotted walls, an axle slidable in the slots and having end portionsengaging the slotted Walls to prevent said arms from spreading, and atrolley wheel mounted on said axle.

6. Incombination, a fork having chambered arms provided with slots, anaxle having annular grooved portions slidable in said slots, bearingsfor the axle arranged within said chambers, a trolley wheel mounted onsaid axle, and caps closing said slots.

7. In combination with a trolley fork having chambers in its tines, anaxle having end portionsextending into said chambers, antifrictionbearings removably mounted on the ends of the axle and arranged in thechambers, a trolley Wheel rotatable with, and slidable along the axle,springs on the axle bearing against the opposite sides of the wheel, andmeans for holding said axle and bearings on the fork, said meanspermitting the axle,

Wheel, springs and bearings to be removed as a unit from the fork.

8. In combination, a trolley fork having chambered arms provided withslots, an axle slidable along said slots, said chambers having open endsto receive lubricant, caps closing the open ends of the chambers andhaving extensions closing said slots, and a wheel mounted on said axle.

9. In combination, a trolley fork having chambered arms provided withslotted walls, an axle having annular grooved portions slidable alongsaid slots, anti-friction bearings mounted on the ends of the axle andarranged in said chambers, and caps for the chambers, having extensionsfor sealing said slots.

JOHN J. CUMMING.

